Survey based on user behavior pattern

ABSTRACT

Identifying availability of a user and prompting the user about a survey that is due to be completed. The identification of availability is based on defined behavior patterns of the user. The survey is split into small components and provided to the user via multiple messaging applications.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of survey, and moreparticularly to taking online survey via messaging services.

Survey generally applies statistics techniques to collect data about aservice, a product, or an event from a certain number of people. Surveyscan provide valuable information on, for example, marketing research,psychology, and/or health professionals.

Surveys can be conducted in many different ways, including through aprinted questionnaire, over the telephone, by mail, in person, or on theweb. A survey usually asks people for information in some structuredformat.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided comprising:dividing a survey into a set of components, each component of the set ofcomponents being assigned a responding duration; identifying a targetuser to receive the survey; determining a behavior pattern of the targetuser; identifying an availability timeframe of the target user based onthe behavior pattern; generating a custom survey from a plurality ofcomponents having a combined duration that is less than or equal to theavailability timeframe; and providing the custom survey to the targetuser via a registered messaging account.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a system accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of a method that may beperformed, at least in part, by the system depicted in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a machine logic (for example, software)portion of the system depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method for survey taking is provided for identifying availability of auser based on a behavior pattern of the user and providing the user aportion of a survey corresponding to the availability duration. Thesurvey is further facilitated via multiple accounts associated with theuser. The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium, or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network, and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network, and forwards the computer readableprogram instructions for storage in a computer readable storage mediumwithin the respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer,or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture, including instructions which implement aspectsof the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagramblock or blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus, or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions, or acts, or carry out combinations of special purposehardware and computer instructions.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference tothe Figures. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating variousportions of networked computers system 100, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention, including: survey managementsub-system 102; client sub-systems 104, 106, 108; target user 110;message application (APP) 109; usage history 111; survey provider 112;surveys database 113; communication network 114; survey managementcomputer 200; communication unit 202; processor set 204; input/output(I/O) interface set 206; memory device 208; persistent storage device210; display device 212; external device set 214; random access memory(RAM) devices 230; cache memory device 232; program 300; register data302; and survey data 304.

Client sub-system 104, 106, 108; target user 110; and survey provider112 may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbook computer,personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a smart phone, or any programmable electronic device capable ofcommunicating with the survey management sub-systems 102 via network114.

Sub-system 102 is, in many respects, representative of the variouscomputer sub-system(s) in the present invention. Accordingly, severalportions of sub-system 102 will now be discussed in the followingparagraphs.

Sub-system 102 may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbookcomputer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a smart phone, or any programmable electronic devicecapable of communicating with the client sub-systems via network 114.Program 300 is a collection of machine readable instructions and/or datathat is used to create, manage, and control certain software functionsthat will be discussed in detail below.

Sub-system 102 is capable of communicating with other computersub-systems via network 114. Network 114 can be, for example, a localarea network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or acombination of the two, and can include wired, wireless, or fiber opticconnections. In general, network 114 can be any combination ofconnections and protocols that will support communications betweenserver and client sub-systems.

Sub-system 102 is shown as a block diagram with many double arrows.These double arrows (no separate reference numerals) represent acommunications fabric, which provides communications between variouscomponents of sub-system 102. This communications fabric can beimplemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/orcontrol information between processors (such as microprocessors,communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheraldevices, and any other hardware component within a system. For example,the communications fabric can be implemented, at least in part, with oneor more buses.

Memory 208 and persistent storage 210 are computer readable storagemedia. In general, memory 208 can include any suitable volatile ornon-volatile computer readable storage media. It is further noted that,now and/or in the near future: (i) external device(s) 214 may be able tosupply, some or all, memory for sub-system 102; and/or (ii) devicesexternal to sub-system 102 may be able to provide memory for sub-system102.

Program 300 is stored in persistent storage 210 for access and/orexecution by one or more of the respective computer processors 204,usually through one or more memories of memory 208. Alternatively, aportion of program 300 may be stored in client sub-system 104, 106, 108,target user 110 and survey provider 112. Persistent storage 210: (i) isat least more persistent than a signal in transit; (ii) stores theprogram (including its soft logic and/or data), on a tangible medium(such as magnetic or optical domains); and (iii) is substantially lesspersistent than permanent storage. Alternatively, data storage may bemore persistent and/or permanent than the type of storage provided bypersistent storage 210.

Program 300 may include both machine readable and performableinstructions, and/or substantive data (that is, the type of data storedin a database). In this particular embodiment, persistent storage 210includes a magnetic hard disk drive. To name some possible variations,persistent storage 210 may include a solid state hard drive, asemiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any othercomputer readable storage media that is capable of storing programinstructions or digital information.

The media used by persistent storage 210 may also be removable. Forexample, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage 210.Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, andsmart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto anothercomputer readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage210.

Communications unit 202, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices external to sub-system102. In these examples, communications unit 202 includes one or morenetwork interface cards. Communications unit 202 may providecommunications through the use of either, or both, physical and wirelesscommunications links. Any software modules discussed herein may bedownloaded to a persistent storage device (such as persistent storagedevice 210) through a communications unit (such as communications unit202).

I/O interface set 206 allows for input and output of data with otherdevices that may be connected locally in data communication withcomputer 200. For example, I/O interface set 206 provides a connectionto external device set 214. External device set 214 will typicallyinclude devices such as a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or someother suitable input device. External device set 214 can also includeportable computer readable storage media such as, for example, thumbdrives, portable optical or magnetic disks, and memory cards. Softwareand data used to practice embodiments of the present invention, forexample, program 300, can be stored on such portable computer readablestorage media. In these embodiments the relevant software may (or maynot) be loaded, in whole or in part, onto persistent storage device 210via I/O interface set 206. I/O interface set 206 also connects in datacommunication with display device 212.

Display device 212 provides a mechanism to display data to a user andmay be, for example, a computer monitor or a smart phone display screen.

The programs described herein are identified based upon the applicationfor which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the presentinvention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus the presentinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

Program 300 operates to split a survey into a plurality of surveycomponents. Program 300 further provides one or more of the plurality ofsurvey components to a user or a survey taker by determining anavailable time slot of the user. The survey may be taken by the user viamultiple registered accounts associated with the user, and each of themultiple accounts responds one or more survey components.

Some embodiments of the present invention recognize the following facts,potential problems and/or potential areas for improvement with respectto the current state of the art: (i) most of the times surveys areoptional; (ii) users may tend to attempt a survey that is not based onhis busy schedule or priority items at that moment; and/or (iii) usersmay need extra efforts to recall about a pending survey details andlinks when the user finds some time to take the pending survey.

Messaging services are closer to public than ever. With people gettingeasier access to messaging services, messaging services are a goodmedium to collect survey data. Surveys have more impact as a surveytaker feels like someone on the other side is interacting with them orresponding to them. People spend on social networking sites or chatmessengers when they have some free time or on the move, thus reachingpeople or sending surveys when people have some free time can improvesurvey results. Survey results or feedback play a crucial rule forbetterment of a system or a product for which a survey is taken.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide surveys over messagingservices. For example, users are provided with a link for taking asurvey. Further, the users are provided with a survey facilitatoridentification (ID), which they ping to initiate the survey. The surveyfacilitator ID is generated for each user who takes participation in asurvey. The user first logs in into the messaging service system usinghis/her user ID and password. Alternatively, if the user does not havean account the user can register one to the messaging service system ora temporary user ID/password can be provided. Once logging into themessaging service system the user pings the survey facilitator ID whichhas been provided to the user over mail prior to initialization ofsurvey. The survey details are tied to the survey facilitator ID. Oncethe facilitator id is pinged the user is presented with instructions,questions and/or options. The user answer or respond to survey questionsover the messaging service. This process will go on till the end of thesurvey is reached. Further, additional security measure can beintegrated in between. In this example, a messaging service acts as themedium to conduct the survey.

Further, some embodiments of the present invention capture and store theanswers or feedback to the survey in the database. The received answersare processed and a survey report is generated for next or correctivesteps on the survey business line.

FIG. 2 shows flowchart 250 depicting a first method according to thepresent invention. FIG. 3 shows program 300 for performing at least someof the method steps of flowchart 250. This method and associatedsoftware will now be discussed, over the course of the followingparagraphs, with extensive reference to FIG. 2 (for the method stepblocks) and FIG. 3 (for the software blocks).

Processing begins at step S255, where registration module (“mod”) 355receives registration information from a target user. In this example,the target user 110 registers with the survey management 102 to receivesurveys from the survey provider 112.

Processing proceeds to step S260, where survey module 360 receive asurvey from a survey provider. In this example, the survey provider 112is shown with surveys store 113 from which surveys are sent to surveymanagement 102.

Processing proceeds to step S265, where sub-component module 365 dividesthe survey into a set of sub-components. In this example, the surveymanagement 102 breaks up the survey into sub-components. Eachsub-component of the set of survey sub-components has a correspondingresponding time. In this example, a set of survey domain specificparameters include: (i) number of questions in the survey; (ii)timelines to be considered for completing the survey; (iii)participants/users demographics; and/or (iv) average time needed for aquestion to answer.

Some embodiments of the present invention apply analytics techniques toidentify the average time needed for a question from historic surveydata.

Some embodiments of the present invention define during survey questionconfiguration an approximate time needed for completing the survey. Theapproximate time could be derived based on pilot run results carried byresearchers during a survey composition. Both the average time and theapproximate time are crucial factors in splitting the survey into smallchunks/survey components.

By breaking down the survey into smaller tasks and the survey management102 in FIG. 1 decides how much each smaller survey component can takeand uses that information to deliver the right survey component to theuser based on the amount of time the user will have. For example, if itis a 3 minutes song the user is listening to, a 2.5 minute chunk of thesurvey components could be displayed to the user, rather than a part ofthe survey which can take 4 or 5 minutes.

Processing proceeds to step S270, where behavior pattern module 370determines a behavior pattern of the target user. In this example, theset of survey domain specific parameters further include: participantsbehavior/preferences, which facilitates deriving a behavior pattern ofthe user to identify a right time to remind the participant/user of thepending survey. Such behavior patterns include, but are not limited to,(i) a user listening to music on the move; (ii) a user waiting on aconference call for other participants to join; and/or (iii) a userconnecting to WiFi or Internet. Such behaviors may be configured, forexample 15 or 30 minutes duration. (Note: the term(s) “WiFI” may besubject to trademark rights in various jurisdictions throughout theworld and are used here only in reference to the products or servicesproperly denominated by the marks to the extent that such trademarkrights may exist.)

Processing proceeds to step S275, where availability module 375identifies an availability period of the target user. In this example,the survey management 102 determines when target user 110 is availableand for how much time the target user may be available to process surveysub-components. This determination is made by accessing and/ormonitoring the user's activity for an availability indicator, such as astatus posting “waiting for a conference call.” The availability periodwill be determined based on the indicator and pre-indicator applicationusage history 111 that provides information about the duration of thepresent availability. Even a calendar (not shown) may be accessed todetermine when a meeting starts, etc. Further the availabilitydetermination may be based on other behavior patterns of the targetuser. Based on some defined behavior patterns of the user, surveymanagement 102 detects user availability and prompts and/or remindsusers about a survey which is due based on target user identification.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a user chooses or allowssuch behaviors/activities to be tracked to receive a prompt of survey.For example, the user can allow few activities like “listening music,”“playing games,” and/or “using messaging services,” which indicates thatthe user may not be prompted if the user is on, for example, “videowatch.” In some embodiments of the present invention, an audio promptoption could alert the user without interrupting user actions.

In a conference call scenario, the survey prompt may be a customconfiguration such as if a conference call ends before the plannedconference duration. A meeting/conference call application can know thatthe user is in a meeting (assuming sync between the user's calendar andthe meeting application). And the user has dialed into the conferencefrom one or more of clients 104, 106, 108 in FIG. 1. The surveysub-system 102 can detect that the user is waiting for others to join orthe conference moderator to start the conference, in which case, thesurvey sub-system 102 detects the user having some free time and willprompt the user for the survey.

Processing proceeds to step S280, where custom survey module 380generates a custom survey for the target user. In this example, surveymanagement 102 generates a custom survey for the target user based onthe determination in step S275. Specifically, the one or moresub-components are identified based on the behavior pattern andresponding times of the one or more sub-components. In this example, thesurvey management 102 understands/interprets the configured userbehavior pattern and provides the survey questions as small chunks (oneor more survey sub-components) to the user. Providing smaller surveycomponents or portion to the user based on possible available timefacilitates the user to provide responses partly.

Processing proceeds to step S285, where transmit module 385 transmitsthe custom survey via a registered messaging account. In this example,the custom survey made up of sub-components is sent to the target userby the survey management 102 via messaging application 109.

Processing proceeds to stop at step S290, where collection module 390collects custom survey responses from the target user. In this example,as survey components are answered, survey management 102 stores theresponses in survey store 304. When a full survey is completed, thesurvey management system transmits the completed survey to the surveyprovider.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the set of survey domainspecific parameters further include: participant registered accounts,which facilitates to conduct surveys to multiple accounts ofparticipants/users. The survey sub-system 102 is able to captureresponses and tag them to relevant survey sessions.

A user/survey taker can register multiple accounts including a socialnetworking account or a personal account in the user's organizationprofile. The multiple accounts further include an organization email IDof the user, and/or a personal email ID under the user's personalprofile. The survey sub-system 102 tags/treats all the registeredaccounts as allowable channels to capture survey feedback, such that theuser is facilitated to respond few questions from one account and fewresponses from another account. That is, the user is allowed to provideresponses in any of the channels/accounts for the same survey session.

For example, if a user responds for initial three questions in apersonal email and a few other questions later in social networkingsites, the survey sub-system 102 is able to capture responses as under asingle survey session. Based on a registered personal phone number of auser, a communication can be established for various messagingapplications available and installed in users mobile devices to promptsurvey due information. When the user choose “No” upon being prompted,the survey sub-system 102 tries to capture a preference slot of the userand accordingly a next reminder can be re-triggered.

Some embodiments of the present invention may include one, or more, ofthe following features, characteristics and/or advantages: (i) messagingservices can be used to conduct a survey; (ii) a user can take a surveyanytime the user want as the survey is available in a hand-held and moreconvenient and popular medium; and/or (iii) more users can be reachedand more feedback data are captured.

Some helpful definitions follow:

Present invention: should not be taken as an absolute indication thatthe subject matter described by the term “present invention” is coveredby either the claims as they are filed, or by the claims that mayeventually issue after patent prosecution; while the term “presentinvention” is used to help the reader to get a general feel for whichdisclosures herein that are believed as maybe being new, thisunderstanding, as indicated by use of the term “present invention,” istentative and provisional and subject to change over the course ofpatent prosecution as relevant information is developed and as theclaims are potentially amended.

Embodiment: see definition of “present invention” above—similar cautionsapply to the term “embodiment.”

and/or: inclusive or; for example, A, B “and/or” C means that at leastone of A or B or C is true and applicable.

Computer: any device with significant data processing and/or machinereadable instruction reading capabilities including, but not limited to:desktop computers, mainframe computers, laptop computers,field-programmable gate array (FPGA) based devices, smart phones,personal digital assistants (PDAs), body-mounted or inserted computers,embedded device style computers, application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC) based devices.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: dividing a survey into a setof components, each component of the set of components being assigned aresponding duration; identifying a target user to receive the survey;determining a behavior pattern of the target user; identifying anavailability timeframe of the target user based on the behavior pattern;generating a custom survey from a plurality of components having acombined duration that is less than or equal to the availabilitytimeframe; and providing the custom survey to the target user via aregistered messaging account.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: prompting the target user to take the custom survey.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the prompting the target user includes usingan audio prompt.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the prompting thetarget user is generated via one or more of a plurality of messagingapplications that are available and installed on the registered device.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the responding duration for acomponent is calculated based on historic data collected, at least inpart, during a previous response session with a previous user.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: the behavior pattern is determined to bethat the target user is waiting on a conference call having a futurestart time; and the availability timeframe is the difference between acurrent time and the future start time.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the providing the custom survey is performed via one or moreaccounts of assigned to the target user.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: registering a set of messaging accounts for thetarget user; and receiving a set of user preferences including: contactinformation for each messaging account; a set of authorized surveyproviders; and a set of do-not-survey timeframes.
 9. The method of claim8, wherein the set of messaging accounts includes an instant messagingaccount that displays user availability.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving the survey from a pre-authorized surveyprovider, the survey directed to the target user.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein determining the behavior pattern includes: monitoringthe registered messaging account for an availability indicator; storingaccount activity data based on the monitoring; and responsive toidentifying the availability indicator, analyzing the account activitydata stored prior to identifying the availability indicator to determinethe behavior pattern.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying anavailability timeframe includes: responsive to determining the behaviorpattern, referencing an availability table having a pre-determinedduration corresponding to the behavior pattern, the pre-determinedduration being the availability timeframe.
 13. The method of claim 12,wherein the behavior pattern is determined to be that the target user islistening to music.